Learn English – What did they use in Old English or Middle English before ‘of course’

early-modern-englishold-english

I'm writing a story that heavily uses archaic or unusual English words, with a focus of non-Latin, non-French and non-Anglo-Norman derived words and how English might work without them.

I found very little that makes sense to use in place of that phrase, 'of course' as we use it now. According to Wiktionary "course" has been around since Middle English. The entry for 'of course' makes note of a meaning going back to the 16th century.

So I'm guessing maybe they would have used something utterly different before then. Any clues as to what?

The part of speech I'm looking for, is as an adverb or interjection, such as:

"Did you get the jam?", he asked. "Of course", I answered.

"Of course I know the answer!", she growled.

Best Answer

I suspect it was either

1 "gewis" It is not a precise translation but it carries much the same meaning and was relatively common. (Compare the German "Gewiss" See https://dict.leo.org/german-english/gewiss - certainly; of course; sure).

OED:

archaic. A. adj. (gewis)

Certain (subjectively and objectively). Only in Old English.

a1000 Prose Life Guthlac (1848) v. 30 We syndon gewisse þines lifes.

c1000 Gosp. Nicod. iii Myd gewyssum gesceade yrn & clypa..þone

The Middle English is "iwis" (and various other spellings)

2 A good alternative is soþlice

Bosworth Toller: http://bosworth.ff.cuni.cz/028359

-sóþlíce

I. as adv. Truly, really, certainly, verily "Ðú bist sóþlíce ǽr þrím dagum genumen of ðínum líchoman" = certainly before three days thou wilt be taken from the body,(a) Truly, in truth; actually, really; assuredly, certainly; indeed, in fact;

The Middle English is sothli.

(Compare "forsooth")

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